About this Event
Join Us at Home by Milestone | Intro to Retrofit!
Thinking about improving an existing home? Discover the principles, products and people behind better, more energy-efficient retrofit.
Whether you're planning improvements to your own home, designing retrofit projects for clients or working professionally in the built environment, Home by Milestone's Intro to Retrofit is an opportunity to explore what good retrofit looks like – and how to approach it successfully.
Hosted at Masson Mills, the half-day event brings together expert talks, practical advice, exhibition tours and opportunities to speak directly with people working across retrofit and high-performance construction.
Come for the whole event or drop in for the talks and sessions most relevant to you.
What is Intro to Retrofit ?
Intro to Retrofit is designed to help make retrofit easier to understand.
Improving an existing home isn't simply about adding insulation or changing the heating system. Building fabric, ventilation, airtightness, moisture, heating and energy all interact – and making the right decisions in the right order matters.
Throughout the event, specialists will introduce some of the key principles behind successful retrofit and answer practical questions about real projects.
You'll also have the opportunity to explore the Home by Milestone exhibition, seeing construction products, materials and technologies in person rather than trying to understand everything from brochures and websites.
Who should attend?
Intro to Retrofit is open to anyone interested in improving the performance of existing homes, including:
- Homeowners considering renovation or energy-efficiency improvements
- Self-builders and renovators
- Architects and architectural designers
- Developers and landlords
- Builders and contractors
- Retrofit and energy professionals
- Building-services professionals
- Anyone interested in Passivhaus, EnerPHit and low-energy homes
You don't need to be a retrofit expert. The talks are designed to introduce the subjects in straightforward, practical language.
What you'll learn
The event will explore some of the fundamental questions that arise when planning a retrofit:
Where should I start?
Understand why considering the home as a complete system can lead to better decisions.
How can the building fabric be improved?
Explore insulation, airtightness, windows and other elements that influence heat loss, comfort and building performance.
What is EnerPHit?
Discover the Passivhaus standard developed specifically for the energy-efficient retrofit of existing buildings.
Why does ventilation matter?
Learn about Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR), indoor air quality and the relationship between ventilation and an increasingly airtight home.
How do the different technologies work together?
Explore why heating, ventilation, insulation, airtightness and renewable technologies need to be considered as part of an overall strategy.
Explore the Home by Milestone exhibition
Guided exhibition tours will take place during the event.
Visitors will be able to explore products, materials and technologies relevant to retrofit and high-performance homes and discuss how different solutions might apply to their own projects.
It's an opportunity to see, touch and compare products in a real environment and understand how individual components fit into the bigger picture.
Talks & Timetable
16:00 – Doors Open & Exhibition Tours
Arrive, explore Home by Milestone and meet other visitors and industry professionals.
17:00 – Opening Address
An introduction to Retro Expo and why taking a whole-house approach matters when improving existing homes.
17:15 – Introduction to EnerPHit: The Passivhaus Retrofit Standard
An accessible introduction to EnerPHit and how Passivhaus principles can be applied to existing buildings to improve comfort, energy efficiency and building performance.
17:45 – Introduction to MVHR & Ventilation
What is MVHR, how does it work and when should it be considered? Explore the role good ventilation plays in creating comfortable, healthy and energy-efficient homes.
18:15 – Introduction to Building Fabric
Explore the fundamentals of improving the thermal envelope of an existing home, including insulation, airtightness, thermal bridging and the importance of getting the details right.
19:00 – Event Closes
Meet the Experts
Alongside the main talks, visitors will have opportunities to speak directly with specialists about their own projects and questions.
Sessions will include opportunities to:
Meet the Retrofit Architect
Bring along your ideas, plans or questions and discuss how to approach an existing-home retrofit.
Meet Home by Milestone Members
Talk informally with construction professionals, manufacturers and specialists involved in delivering better homes.
Talk Retrofit Finance
Explore some of the financial considerations involved in planning and delivering a retrofit project.
Why attend?
Intro to Retrofit gives you an opportunity to:
- Understand the fundamentals of successful home retrofit
- Hear directly from people working in the industry
- Ask questions about your own home or project
- Learn about EnerPHit and Passivhaus retrofit principles
- Explore materials, products and technologies in person
- Make more informed decisions before committing to major works
Bring your project with you
Already thinking about retrofitting a property?
Bring your plans, drawings, photographs or simply your questions.
The event is designed to help you understand your options, identify the right questions to ask and connect with people who can help you take the next step.
Reserve your place
Come for the full programme or drop in for the sessions most relevant to you.
Event venue & nearby stays
Masson Mills, 41 Derby Road, Matlock, United Kingdom
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